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Anderson, Browns find offensive touch in romp of Giants

Oct 14, 2008 - 5:32 AM By Jeff Brewer PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Derek Anderson and Braylon Edwards were eager to answer their critics on a national stage.

The Cleveland Browns' Pro Bowl pitch-and-catch combination from last season came alive in a 35-14 lopsided win over the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants on Monday night.

New York previously had won 13 straight games away from home, including their upset victory over New England in Super Bowl XLII.

"Tonight was a dream for me to play on Monday Night Football," Edwards said.

Stumbling out of the gate with one win in four games, Anderson began hearing calls for Brady Quinn to take his quarterback job. Bothered by frequent drops, Edwards came into the game with 95 receiving yards on the season.

But against the Giants, the duo came to life.

Anderson completed 18-of-29 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns and Edwards caught five balls for 154 yards and one touchdown in a win that may help turn around the Browns' season.

"We were in a freakish rhythm," Edwards said. "It's a new season for us."

Despite their offensive explosion, it took a defensive play to seal the win for Cleveland (2-3).

After Anderson tossed an 11-yard strike to Edwards to make it 27-14 on the first play of the fourth quarter, New York drove from its own 14-yard line to the Browns 9. The Giants were gashing the Browns on the ground when Eli Manning threw his third interception of the contest.

Browns defensive back Eric Wright made a finger-tip grab at the 6-yard line and raced 94 yards along the left sideline for a touchdown, avoiding a potential tackler in Manning. Anderson then found Edwards for a two-point play and a 35-14 advantage.

"When I was running I tried to give myself some room so I could stay in bounds and I lucked out," Wright said. "It is real embarrassing if you get tackled by the quarterback, so I had to stay inbounds."

Browns coach Romeo Crennel was pleased with the play of his secondary.

"I've said all along that these guys can compete," he said. "They are getting better."

The Giants made one last gasp, driving to the Browns 6 before going out on downs with 3:58 to play.

"I could feel it. I could see it in guys' eyes," Anderson said. "During warmups, guys were focused and the intensity was there. In the locker room before the game, you could feel it."

New York took a 7-3 lead on a 7-yard touchdown run by Brandon Jacobs, as the big back ran through Cleveland defensive back Mike Adams at the 3-yard line and powered into the end zone.

The Browns answered with touchdown drives of 74 and 77 yards. The first drive was fueled by a 70-yard strike from Anderson to Edwards that ended up at the New York 4. Anderson also connected with Darnell Dinkins on a 22-yard TD throw with 2:15 left in the opening half, making the score 17-7.

It appeared the Browns would take momentum in the locker room, but an illegal contact penalty on Adams helped sustain a 10-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by Manning's 3-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 12 seconds left to trim the deficit to 17-14.

Yet, Manning threw an interception on the first play from scrimmage of the third quarter and Cleveland drove to the Giants 8, settling for a 26-yard field goal by Phil Dawson, his second of the game.

"We make no excuses," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "It was a physical game and we lost the battle of turnovers."

New York (4-1) entered the contest with just one turnover on the season.

"We haven't been turning the ball over, I haven't been throwing interceptions," Manning said. "You turn the ball over three times (three interceptions), that's just not the formula for winning games."